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After last week’s whopping blow to wilderness legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, a historic wilderness bill is back on track.

The Omnibus Public Land Management Act was reintroduced in the Senate after a razor-close vote failed to secure its passage in the House on March 11. The legislation passed the Senate March 19, clearing perhaps the most significant hurdle to protecting some of the country’s most cherished landscapes. The vote was 77-20 in favor of the bill.

At The Wilderness Society today, folks were waiting with bated breath and figurative confetti in hand as the House of Representatives prepared to vote on a long-awaited, historic piece of legislation that would have created the largest expansion of wilderness protection in 15 years.

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A historic piece of wilderness legislation came just short of passage in the House of Representatives today, prompting a collective gasp of disappointment from wild land champions.

The legislation, of which The Wilderness Society is a fervent supporter, is a collection of wide-ranging bills that would grant needed protections to lands, waters and cultural sites throughout the nation.

While the Omnibus Public Land Management Act has broad bi-partisan support, it needed a two-thirds majority due to procedural agreement. The 282-144 vote in favor was just two votes short.

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The Wilderness Society’s efforts to protect America’s remaining wild places got a boost last week as wilderness campaign leaders from around the country assembled in Washington to lobby for landscape protection and develop strategies for future efforts.

As part of the week, I was fortunate enough to sit down with Congressman Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., who has been a long standing champion of wilderness and public lands.

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Wilderness is nature in the raw — a place undeveloped, untrammeled and unspeakably beautiful. It's a place open and accessible to anyone — sportsmen, anglers, hikers, backpackers, equestrians, climbers and others — who are willing to venture out and survive, if even for a short while, at the mercy of their wits and the elements.

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Shh. Did you hear that? That’s the sound of a loon. He must be up ahead of us. Walk very gently and we might catch a glimpse. Keep your eyes on the open water and we might see some otters, too. They’re all over Michigan’s lakes. Don’t forget to take the lens cap off your cameras — come on.

Haunting beauty of Beaver Basin has drawn Midwesterners for decades

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After all that heart-pumping adventure seeking we did in the West, we’re going to slow it down here in Alabama today. We’ll take a nice stroll through a canyon and talk about the positive economic impact that public lands make on our economy. Nationwide, outdoor recreation contributes $730 billion to the American economy, while supporting 6.5 million jobs. We’ll see a slice of that here.

Let’s leave some for the grandkids: Country music group Alabama said it all

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Anyone who is claustrophobic may want to stay on the bus for this stop. If you’re up for some adventure, though, we’re going to go below-ground and see some amazing spectacles — getting a glimpse of just a few of the scientific motivations for passing the Omnibus lands bill.

Untouched by life above, an underground treasure-trove awaits protection